Highlights: Sona 2024
Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, Reps. France Castro and Arlene Brosas | Image: X/KabataanPL, Instagram/@mico.selo
Representatives from the Makabayan bloc let their Sona 2024 look speak for their advocacies on the red carpet for President Bongbong Marcos’ third state of the nation address on July 22 at the Batasan Complex.
In an Instagram post, representatives from progressive party-list groups such as France Castro (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) and Arlene Brosas (Gabriela) campaign for fair wages, national sovereignty, and resistance against foreign military aggression using their garments.
“The works finally resisted threats of confiscation, detention, and arrest,” a post by artist Michael Joselo stated, which also showed the lady solons in their handpainted gowns.
Meanwhile, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel’s sported a barong designed by Albert Raqueño made from the color scheme of blue and yellow with touches of red to showcase the youth’s fight for a bright future.
On his Instagram story, Raqueño shared that he was “mentally preparing” to create the outfit; nonetheless, he was more comfortable with his work than last year.
“For some reason, mas kalmado ako kesa last year. Mas mabilis na rin yung pagbwelo kahit 9pm na ako nagstart (dahil sa pagpapatuyo ng coating at repairs) dahil sobrang familiar na ng proseso. tho meron pa ring konting panic dahil 9am dapat suot na ito,” he wrote in his caption.
(For some reason, I’m calmer than last year. The welding is also faster, even though I started at 9 p.m. (due to the drying of the coating and repairs) because the process is very familiar. (Though there is still a little panic because it should be worn at 9 a.m.)
Image: Instagram/@albertraqueno
On the other hand, Manuel said in the red carpet interview that his barong is a visualization of youth’s vision for an alternative future as they break free and fight back against social issues.
“This symbolizes the hope of the new generation to graduate from the social ills dragging the country to further crisis and even outright war,” he explained.